Luggage carrier for automobiles



Feb N, 1923..

W. SCHWENN.

' LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

2 SHEET$SHEET l.

FILED NOV. 20, 1920'.

' INVENTOR Feb. 2@, 1923.

W. SCHWENN. LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- FILED N0v.2p, 1920.

IVENTOR when not in use.

Patented Feb. 2%, 1223.

WIL'LIAM SCH'WENN, 0F YORK, N. Y.

LUGGAGE CHLERJRIEER FOR A'UTUMOBILES.

Application and November 20', 1920. Serial No. 425,319.

To all whom it away comic m.

y Be it known that l, l'ViLLraiir boliwnniv,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident ing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a detachable and coll apsiblelu earner which may be applied to the running board of an automobilewhen desired, and removed readily and collapsed. into a small space Thisobject is accom plished by my invention, one embodiment of which ishereinafter more particularly set forth. l

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, i

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved luggage carrier in useon an automobile.

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3respectively of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4t is an enlarged detailed view showing a portion of thestructure of the carrier. I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the luggage carrier in its collapsed form,Figure 6 showing one side, Figure 7 the other side, Figure 8 an end, andFigure 9 a top plan v1ew.

Throughout the various views of the drawings, similar referencecharacters designate similar parts. I

My improved luggage carrier 1 may be applied to the running board 2 ofany ordinary automobile, and it is held in place by means of threeclamps 3, 4:, and 5 respectively. Each of these clamps is composed of ascrew 6 with a laterally extending handle and the screw passes through abracket which is provided with a corresponding thread and at its topeach screw is provided with a suitable washer 7 by means of which it isconnected to the running board 2 of an automobile. Each set screw 6forms a part of a clamp, the other part being one of the brackets 8, 10and 9 which form parts of the clamps 3, 4t and 5 above mentioned, thecenter clamp being the clamp 4. This center bracket is pivotallyconnected with the lazy tongs 11 WhlCltXVlll be described below, and isplaced at the lower middle portion of the same.

The end brackets 8 and 9 are preferably made, as shownin Figures 2 and8, with a top bar 12, a vertical end 13 and a stud bar 1 1 through whichthe screw 6 passes which runs under the bar 12 and is parallel. thereto,but extends only partially under, as shown. The top of each bar 12 atits inner end is riveted to a bent strap 15 which is provided with ahorizontally disposed portion 16 (which is riveted to its bar 12) andthe ends of this strap 15 extend upwardly and form two arms, one 17going diagonally and the other 18, vertically, and finally it is bentnear its top so as to be brought adjacent to the end of the arm 17 andthe two ends are connected by a pivot 19 which is in the form of a rivetwhich also passes through an end bar 20 which supports one end of thelazy tongs 11.

These bars 20 are identical except that the one shown in Figure 3 ishorizontally disposed at the upper and lower ends 23 and 24 in shorterlengths than are the corre sponding ends 21 and 22 shown in Figure 2.Both ends 22 and 24; are pivotally connected to their respective bars 12by means of pivots 25 which are in axial alinement with their respectivepivots 19. The purpose of making the webs 21 and 22 and one bar 20 of adifferent length of the corresponding webs 23 and 24; of the other bar20 is to enable the bars 12 to lie parallel with each other as shown inFigure 9 when the luggage carrier is collapsed.

The lazy tongs 11 is pivotally attached at its lower ends to the bar 20by means of fixed pivots 26 and at its upper end by means of movablepivots 27, each of which moves in a slot 28 which runs as shown inFigures 4 and 5. This slot 28 is made with a width which is narrowerthan the head of the rivet 2'7 and wider than the shank where it is connected to the lazy tongs 11 so that the most reduced portion may passthrough a perforation in the corresponding upper end of the lazy tongs11 where it is fixed.

The 'U bracket 10 is secured to a plate 29 which has a pivot 30 whichconnects it to the lower center portion of the lazy tongs 11. This pivot30 forms one of the pivots of the lazy tongs.

In view of the foregoing the operationand use of my improved luggagecarrier will be readily understood.

Assuming the device to be erected it is used as shown in Figure 1 wherethe luggage 31 is placed on the running board 2 of an automobile andbetween the body 32 of the automobile and the lazy tongs l1 and endstraps 15. These end straps are separated any desired amount, accordingto the luggage. whichis interposed between them, and are preferably soplaced that they will rest snug against the ends of the luggage. ll henso placed, the screws 6 are tightcnet and the carrier is in the positionshown.

Assuming that it is no longer desired to keep the luggage carrier in useit may be removed by loosening the screws (3 and removing the carrier 1and collapsing the lazy tongs 11, after which the U clamp 10 thrown intoa horizontal position snug against the lazy tongs 11 and adjacent to theshort shank 2%. The end pivot-ally connected to this short shank is thenthrown down against the lazy tongs 11 and thereafter the other end isthrown down on it and then the carrier is collapsed without bending orstraining and into a minimum space. By reversing these operations it maybe erected and applied. It is obvious that the curvature of the upperends of the parts 18 enables these bars to get under the swell of thebody 32 of an automobile so that these ends may be used on any style ormake of car, and they are, therefore, universal. in their application.

l/Vhile I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it isobvious that it is not restricted thereto, but that it is broad enoughto cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexedclaims.

' I-laving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1.. A luggage carrier provided with a iasy tongs and ends with partsivotally connected together and to said lazy tongs with fixed andmovable pivots, said pivots in said. ends being placed at unequaldistances from said lazy tongs so that the parts of said ends may befolded parallel with said lazy tongs and in different planes so that thecarrier being placed at unequal distances from said lazy tongs so thatthe parts of said ends may be folded parallel with said lazy tongs andin different planes so that the carrier may be collapsed into a minimumspace without straining and a clamp pivotally connected to the loweredge of the lazy tongs intermediate of its ends. 7

2- ii. luggage carrier provided with a lazy tongs and ends with partspivotally connected together and to sid lazy tongs with fixed andmovable pivots, said pivots in said ends being placed at unequaldistances from said lazy tongs so that the parts of said ends may befolded parallel with said lazy tongs and in diil'erent planes so tl atthe carrier may be collapsed into a minimum space without straining,each oi said ends being provided with a grooved bar which may be placedclose to the body of an automobile without interfering with the swelloi' the same above the running board.

4t. A luggage carrier provided with lazy tongs and ends with partspivoially connected together and pivoted to said lazy tongs, said pivotsin said ends being placed at unequal distances from said lazy tone-s sothat the parts of said ends may be 'l'oldcd parallel with said lazytongs and in dillercnt planes so that the carrier may be collapsed intoa minimum space without straii'iing.

5. A luggage carrier provided with lazy tongs and ends with partspivotally connected together and pivoted to said lazy tongs, said pivotsin said ends being placed at unequal distances from said lazy tongs andso that the parts of said ends may be folded parallel with said lazytongs and -in ditl ercnt planes so that the carrier may be collapsedinto a minimum space without straining and a clamp pivotally connectedto the lower edge of the lazy tongs intermediate of its ends.

(3. A luggage carrier provided with lazy tongs and ends with partspivotally connected together and operatively connected with said lazytongs, said pivots in said ends being placed at unequal distances fromsaid lazy tongs so that the parts of said ends may be folded parallelwith said lazy tongs and in diiierent planes so that the :arrier may becollapsed into a minimum space without straining.

In testimony whereof, I have set my hand this 15th day of November,1920.

\VILLIAM SCHlVEi N.

